Rep. Lynch visiting Brockton VA to review neglect allegations

Friday

Jun 27, 2014 at 5:00 AMJun 27, 2014 at 8:42 AM

Two veterans in a Brockton Veterans Affairs psychiatric facility were neglected for years without proper treatment, according to a scathing letter and report sent to the White House by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

Staff Reporter

BROCKTON – As the Veterans Affairs waiting times scandal emerged over the past several weeks, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch was outspoken on the issue.Lynch said he and other federal officials asked the VA to review the New England health care system, which includes the Brockton VA hospital.

That review, Lynch said, showed that Massachusetts demonstrated “best practices” and was performing overall much better than places like Phoenix, where VA officials have said at least 18 veterans died waiting for medical appointments.

But a federal whistleblower report unveiled this week tells a different story.

Two veterans in a Brockton VA facility were neglected for years without proper psychiatric treatment, according to a scathing letter and report sent Monday to the White House by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

In response, Lynch plans to meet privately today in Brockton with the director of the Boston VA system.

“I am deeply troubled by the recent allegations of patient neglect at the Brockton VA Hospital cited by the Office of Special Counsel in its June 23rd report to President Obama,” Lynch said in a statement.

“These instances of patient mistreatment and neglect as described by whistleblower complaints are totally unacceptable. While the vast majority of VA doctors, nurses and staff are dedicated hardworking professionals, every veteran deserves high quality care and must be able to trust and rely on our veterans facilities.”

In one case documented by the Office of Special Counsel letter, a veteran with a “100 percent service-connected psychiatric condition” was first examined in 2012, more than seven years after he was admitted as an inpatient at the Brockton facility.

In another, a veteran admitted to the facility in 2003 “with significant and chronic mental health issues” did not receive a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation until 2011.

Vincent Ng, the Boston VA director, said in an interview this week that while both patients did not receive adequate psychiatric care, they received “continuous” primary and nursing care while living at a nursing home-style facility in Brockton.

“These patients can benefit from a more comprehensive mental health evaluation,” Ng said. “That’s something that I firmly believe we can do much, much better.”

Lynch said that due to privacy concerns, his visit today with Ng will be closed to the media. His office said he would be available afterward for comment.

Mayor Bill Carpenter is planning to attend the tour, which is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at the Community Living Center at the Belmont Street facility, , said Bob Buckley, the mayor’s chief of staff.